CLIMATE: An analysis finds coal companies don’t dispute global warming in filings for which they are legally liable. (Greenwire)

ALSO:
• A Florida agency disputes a report that one of its employees was suspended for discussing climate change, as climate advocates say they will file public records requests related to the controversy. (SaintPetersBlog)
• Georgia lawmakers advance legislation calling for less-stringent carbon targets under the Clean Power Plan. (Savannah Morning News)

COAL:
• A Republican congressman says shutting down Florida coal plants “would adversely affect the manatee.” (McClatchy)
• Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell embarks on a sweeping national effort to protect the coal industry from climate regulations. (New York Times)

COAL ASH: 
• The North Carolina legislature will appeal a court decision over appointment powers to a state coal ash commission. (Charlotte Observer)
• The Sierra Club sues a Virginia utility, alleging Clean Water Act violations from coal ash stored at a plant set to be closed this year. (Virginian-Pilot)

SOLAR: Utilities oppose a North Carolina bill that would allow third-party solar ownership. (Charlotte Business Journal)

FRACKING:
• A drilling company sues a West Virginia town to acquire water from a nearby reservoir for fracking operations. (The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register)
• The Arkansas Senate approves a bill exempting frac sand from sales taxes. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
• A controversial fracking project in Louisiana, still being challenged in court, obtains a state permit. (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

PIPELINES:
• Property owners sue to block surveying for a proposed natural gas pipeline between West Virginia and Virginia. (Associated Press)
• A review of West Virginia pipeline incidents from 2003-2014 finds 5 fatalities and more than $13 million in property damage. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

UTILITIES: 
• Jacksonville, Florida’s municipal utility is getting into the natural gas business. (Financial News & Daily Record)
• Residents of a North Carolina beach town protest utility tree-trimming practices. (Wilmington Star-News)

EFFICIENCY: A New Orleans program helps low-income residents obtain high-efficiency light bulbs. (WDSU)

COMMENTARY: The utility industry “has launched a campaign using politics and backroom deals to try and squash their solar competition and preserve their outdated monopoly business model.” (Huffington Post)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

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